Point gained after six-goal deficit: Balingen fight back to earn draw against Hannover

Hannover played with great efficiency for long periods, ending the match with a 64 per cent conversion rate and boasting two standout performers in attack in Renars Uscins (eight goals) and August Pedersen (seven goals). Balingen, on the other hand, squandered a string of chances from the seven-metre line: out of ten attempts, they scored just five goals – a success rate of exactly 50 per cent, which carries particular weight in a draw.

The hosts’ response came via their defence and goalkeeping. Daniel Rebmann made nine saves to keep his team in the game, whilst Yonatan Dayan, with six goals, was the linchpin of their positional attack. For the opposition, Joel Birlehm parried eleven shots and remained a key factor right until the end.

For the newly promoted side, this point sends out an important signal following four narrow defeats in a row, none of which were lost by more than a two-goal margin. Hannover were out for revenge following their exit from the DHB Cup four weeks ago; for long periods they put in a performance that was markedly different from that occasion, but still only managed to take one point. “We were leading by six goals. That shouldn’t happen,” said Pedersen afterwards.

Hannover dominated the first half-hour. Lukas Stutzke and Uscins found good solutions from the backcourt, Pedersen delivered pinprick attacks from the wings, and whilst Balingen lacked cutting edge in attack, the visitors pulled away to 9:13. Matthias Flohr called a time-out after the score reached 9:14, after which HBW fought back with renewed energy: Elias Fügel and Mex Raguse narrowed the gap before the break, and a goal from Daniel Weber as the buzzer sounded made it 13:16 at half-time.

After the break, the match seemed to turn on its head. Justus Fischer, Pedersen and a converted penalty gave the visitors their biggest lead of the evening at 13:19. After that, the visitors lacked the finishing touch, and Balingen capitalised on this consistently. Rebmann made one save after another; the hosts scored easy goals through their fast-paced play; and Dayan, Lion Zacharias and Fügel gradually chipped away at the deficit.

With the score at 24:25, Balingen – buoyed by the home crowd – were fully back in the game; Tobias Heinzelmann equalised in the 51st minute to make it 25:25 and scored again shortly afterwards. When Sascha Pfattheicher scored from a seven-metre penalty to make it 27:26, Balingen took the lead for the first time since the early stages. The closing minutes remained wide open: Hannover equalised twice, Raguse put the home side ahead 29:28 with 70 seconds to go, before Jonathan Edvardsson scored to make it 29:29 with nine seconds remaining. Balingen were unable to get a shot on goal in the remaining time, so the match ended in a draw.

After the match, Dayan made it clear where the turnaround began: “First of all, Daniel Rebmann really helped us. He brought the momentum back on our side. And: I think the spectators simply gave us the strength we needed, and in the second half we kept believing for a long time and wanted it more.” Rebmann himself put the point into perspective following a run of narrow defeats: “The point feels incredibly good and is probably fair enough in the end.”

Both teams are back in action this coming weekend: Hannover host TBV Lemgo Lippe on Friday 23 October, whilst Balingen welcome MT Melsungen on Saturday 24 October. “If we put in a performance like the one we managed today, it’ll be tough for Melsungen to come away with anything here,” said Rebmann.

HBW Balingen-Weilstetten - TSV Hannover-Burgdorf 29:29 (13:16)

HBW Balingen-Weilstetten: Rebmann (9 saves), Cupara (3 saves); Dayan 6, Raguse 5, Zacharias 4, Pöhle 3/3, Heinzelmann 3, Fügel 3, Pfattheicher 2/2, Fuß 1, Bauer 1, Leimeter 1, Wente, Locher, Grupe, Huber

TSV Hannover-Burgdorf: Birlehm (11 saves), Gade (2 saves), Katsigiannis; Uscins 8, Pedersen 7/2, Edvardsson 4, Fischer 3, Stutzke 3, Michalczik 2, Weber 2, Poulsen, Gudjonsson, Heymann, Kothe, Feise, Wolf

Top Player: Yonatan Dayan (HPI 81) / Jonathan Edvardsson (HPI 83)
Spectator count: 2216 (MEY GENERALBLAU Arena)
Suspensions: 4 / 4

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